Vertical strip cleaner



1940- E. A. MATTESON EI'AL VERTICAL STRIP CLEANER Filed Nov. 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS NA 7'TESO/V bw 3 9k & Fl W/N A.

W/ZZ/AM 7P. MEREDITH 2 Dec. 10, 194-0.

E. A. MATTESON EI'AL VERTI CAL STR I P CLEANER Filed Nov. 22, 1939' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EL w/N A INVENTORS 5 5w w. AM T k m M 7 m u M a Patented Dec. 10, 1940 2,224,267 vaa'rrcar. swan CLEANER Elwin A. Matteson and William R. Meredith,

Youngstown, -Ohio, assignors to The Aetna Standard Engineering Company, Youngstown, hio,'acorporation of Ohio Application November 22, 1939, Serial N 0. 305,668

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning or polishing metal sheets, strip or the like, and more particularly to certain improvements in dry cleaning apparatus or branners used for removing oil from tin or terne plated steel strip.

In the manufacture of tin plate and teme plate the bath of molten coating metal is usually covered with a coating of suitable oil, such as palm oil, which floats on topof the hot-metal 10 at the point of exit of the sheet or strip therefrom. This oil prevents oxidation of the coating and protects it until it cools. Prior to commercial use of the plated steel the oil must be-removed and it has been common practiceto absorb-the oil by means of bran, ground corn cobs or other pulverized absorbent material. The usual bran'e ner or machine for applying the bran-to the plated steel has consisted of sets of rolls horizontally disposed through which the sheets pass on a horizontal plane. These devices have been reasonably satisfactory for relatively short and narrow sheets but are not well adapted to use in modern, wide, endless strip production where long coils of strip having a width up to 90" or more are produced and the end of one strip welded to the end of another so that a substantially continuous product is obtained. The old style horizontal branners do not distribute the bran to the center of such wide strips and, due

to the fact that the strips are substantially endless, the bottom rolls are not properly effective to cause the bran to remove oil from the bottom surface of the strip.

Another instance in which a finely divided ma: terial is rubbed against the surface of metal sheet or strip by means of rolls occurs in the polishing of stainless steel sheets with iewelers rouge to obtain thedesired high'finish and our improved apparatus is also well adapted for the 40 continuous polishing of metal sheets or strip with rouge or other suitable polishing agent.

. It is among theobjects of our invention to provide an improved machine for applying a finely divided material to the surface of a moving strip of metal whereby both sides of the metal will be uniformly and effectivelycleaned or polished. Other objects of our invention include: the provision of an improved branner for removing oil from tin plate or the like whereby the bran maybe caused to have oil absorbing engagement with both sides of the strip at the same time and may be recirculated whereby only a small amount of bran is necessary for. effective cleaning; the pro- .vision of apbranner of the type described where- 65 in the work moves verticallytherethrough, thus permitting the gravity flow of bran or other cleaning or polishing material in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the strip; the provision of simple and effective means for driving the cleaning rolls of a branner and eaus- 5 ing even pressure and cleaning action thereof on both sides of the sheet; the provision of a substantially totally enclosed branner or dry cleaner whereby the scattering of bran around the machine is eifectively prevented; and the provision 10 of a simple and rugged apparatus for effectively cleaning or polishing metal sheet strips or the like.

The above and other objects of our invention will appear from the following description of one 15 embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view, takenon line l i of Figure 2 of an embodiment of our improved machine particularly adapted for dry 20" cleaning elongated sheets or strips of metal.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, taken on line 2- -2 of' Figure 1, the metal strip not being'shown in this view.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic layout of the roll drive connections, looking at the elevator side of the machine illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating the roll drive connections looking at the drive side of the machine.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3 and 35 showing one of the bottom bran conveyors.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 1 and illustrating'the upper end of the elevator shown in Figure 6 and also the conveyors 40 for cross feeding and distributing the branat the top ofthe machine.

Where'the term bran is used in the following description and accompanying claims it will be understood that it is intended to refer to and 45 include any finely divided absorbent material which may be used for removing oil and also to include rouge or other agents which may be employed when the apparatus is employed for polishing operations. 50

. Our improved 'apparatusincludes a frame, generally indicated at F, and comprising spaced vertical side plates i and 2- which are connected and held in position by connecting bars 3. Angle flanges 4, atthe lower edges of the side plates I 55 and 2, are adapted toprovide means for mounting the machine on the floor. The strip 6 is moved in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 1) by any suitable means such as rolls A and .B which may be driven from any suitable power source (not shown), and passes around the entering guide roll 6 which is supported for free rotation on the shaft 1. After passing over the roll 6 the strip 5 moves substantially vertically upwardly between the side plates I and 2 and over the upper or exit guide roll 8 which is supported for free rotation on the shaft 9 extending across between the upper ends of the side frame members l and 2.

During the vertical movement of the strip 5 through the machine it is enclosed by the walls III and II which extend across between the side plates and 2. At the bottom of the walls I6 and II is a double hopper structure I2 which collects the bran, as will be later explained, and which is provided with a slotted opening defined by flexible lip members I3 and I4 which may be of rubber or other suitable material and are adapted to form a resiliently sealed joint through which the strip 5 may pass to enter the cleaning compartment I5 but which prevent the leakage of bran through the strip. entering opening at the bottom of the chamber I5.

At the exit'end of the chamber I5 brushes I6 and I1 engage opposite sides of the strip and serve to remove any bran which may adhere to the strip, such removed bran dropping down into the chamber I5.

In order to cause the bran to be rubbed against the surface of the strip we provide a series of cleaning rolls arranged in opposed co-acting pairs, the pairs being spaced vertically along the line of travel of the strip through the cleaning chamber I5. The top pair of rolls is indicated on the drawings at I8 and I9, the pair next below at 20-2I, the next below at 22-23, the next below at 24-25, the next below at 2621 and the bottom pair at 28-29. In some instances more or fewer pairs of these rolls may be employed.

Baffle plates 3|) and 31 extend from a point below the distributing bran conveyors 32 and 33 down to a point just above the second pair of rolls 202|. These bafiles extend entirely across the cleaning chamber I5 between the side walls I and 2 and serve to guide and direct bran from the screws 32 and 33'down to the rolls 20 and 2|. Generally similar pairs of bafiies 34 and 35 are disposed between. each set of rolls and serve to collect and guide the bran as it flows downwardly during the cleaning action as will be more fully described later.

Each of the rolls I8 to 28 inclusive is supported on suitable bearings in the side plates I and 2. The rolls I9, 20, 23, 24,'21 and 29 all have their shafts projecting beyond the side plate I while the rolls I8, 2|, 22, 25, 26 and 28 have their shafts projecting beyond the side plate 2. Each pro- J'ecting end of the roll shafts carries a suitable sprocket overwhich the driving chains 36 and 31 extend. The drive chain 36 engages the sprocketson the first named group of rolls which may be termed the elevator side"rolls and the chain 31 engages the sprockets on the second named group of rolls which, as the sprockets are disposed on the drive side of the machine, may be termed the drive side rolls. The arrangement of these rolls and their drive chains is clearly seen-in Figures 4 and 5'.

vThe drive chain 31 passes around a sprocket 38 onthe shaft 39 which extendsacross between the frames I and 2 and has suitable bearing supports at 49 and 4|. Another drive chain 42 engages a sprocket 43 on the shaft 39 and sprocket 44 on the shaft 45 of the reduction gear 46. The drive motor for the entire machine is indicated at 41 and is directly connected to the reduction gear 46 by the shaft 48. As is best seen in Figure 5, the drive side chain 31 passes overan idler 49 and a take-up roll or sprocket 59 is provided to permit adjustment of the tightness of the chain 31.

At the elevator end of the shaft 39 is a gear 5| which engages a larger gear 52 carried by a short shaft 53 having suitable bearing in the bracket 4| (see Fig. 2). The shaft 53 also carries a sprocket 54 around which the chain 36 passes and by which this chain is driven. An idler sprocket 55 and take-up sprocket 56 are also provided to guide and permit adjustment of the chain 36.

From the above description it will be observed that when the motor 41 is operating the chain 31 will be driven in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 5 and at a certain predetermined speed. The chain 36 will be simultaneously driven through the shaft 39, the gears 5| and 52 and the sprocket 54 but it will be observed that the speed of the chain 36 will be less than that of the chain 31 and we preferably so proportion the gears 5| and 52 that the lineal speed of the chain 36 will be about one-half of the lineal chain 31.

The above described rolls, bafiles, and roll driving connections provide means for causing the bran to move downwardly within the chamber I5,

bteween these rolls and the surfaces of the strip.

The bran which is deposited in the hopper I2 falls down into the two transversely extending troughs 51 and 58 in which are disposed the conveyor screws 59 and 68. These two screws are driven from the shaft 39 by means'of a sprocket 6| and chain 62 which engages a sprocket 63 on the shaft 64 of the conveyor screw 59. A chain 65 connects the sprocket 64 with a sprocket 66 on the shaft of the conveyor screw 60.

As long as the motor 41 drives the shaft 39 the two conveyor screws 59 and 60 will be rotated in a direction to cause material falling into the open top troughs 51 and 58 to be moved to the left (Fig. 2) into and through the'tubular housings 61 and 68 which enclose the outer ends of the conveyors 60 and 59 respectively and extend beyond the side wall I. As is best seen in Figures 3 and6 the tubular housings 61 and 68 are connected to the sides of the vertical tubes 69 and 10 which house the vertical conveyor screws 1| and 12. As the arrangement and driving connections of the screws II and 12 are substantially identical speciflc description will be made only of the screw 1 I, reference being had to Figure 6.

An opening 13 is provided between the horizontal tube 61 and the vertical tube 69. The lower end of the shaft 14"of the screw 1| extends through a bearing 15 in the tube 69 and carries a bevel gear 16 at its lower end. Meshing with the gear 16 is another gear 11 having a shaft 19 and extending out through the wall of the tube 69. The chain 88 engages a sprocket 8| on the tube 81 bythe screw 88 will pass through the aperture 13 and be picked up by the vertical-screw 1| and elevated through the tube 69.

The upper end of the tube 83 is connected to a horizontal tube 84 in which is disposed the conveyor screw 85. An aperture 88 permits material from the .tube 88 to be transferred into the tube 84 and the conveyor 85 will pick up this material and move it to the right (Fig. 7) until it reaches substantially the center line of the machine where it will be discharged through a downwardly opening aperture 88 (Fig. '7) into the trough 81 which partially encloses the double ended conveyor screw 32. As is clearly seen in Figure 7, the screw 32 is of right hand pitch on one side of the center line and left hand pitch on the other side and thus bran dischargedthrough the opening 86' will be divided and moved in both directions from the center line. As it is conveyed horizontally by the screw 32 it will overflow the edge 81' of the trough 31. and will drop down upon the battle 38. By providing the double ended screw 32 the bran will be distributed uniformly across the width of the b'aiiie 38 and thus will be fed to the cleaning rolls over the entire width of the strip being cleaned.

The vertical tube 18 connects with a transverse conveyor tube 89 which houses a screw conveyor 88, similar to conveyor 85. This conveyor 88 transfers bran from the elevator conveyor 12 to the trough 8! which houses the double ended screw conveyor 33 and the distribution and discharge of the bran'by the screw 33 over the lip 8i of the trough 8| takes place in the same manner as described above in reference to the trough 81 and screw 32.

The screws 85, 32, 38 and 38 all have shafts extending out beyond the sideJwall 2 carrying suitable sprockets for engaging the driving chain 82 which passes around each of the sprockets of said screws and around a larger driving sprocket 83 (see Figs. 2 and which is carried by the shaft of the roll l8. A take-up sprocket lt-is provided to permit adjustment of the tension on the chain 82 and it will be observed from Figure 5 that rotation of the roll i8 from the chain 31 will drive the chain 82 and cause simultaneous' rotation of the conveyor screws 85 and 38 and the distributing screws 32 and 33! Thus, when the motor 81 is operating and a charge of bran has been deposited'in the. housing l5, the conveyors 58 and 88 will pick up the bran from the troughs 51 and 58, carry it to the elevator screws 1| and 12 which will lift and transfer it to the horizontal screws 85 and 98 which carry the bran over to the center line of the machine and deposit it into the troughs 81 and 8| where it is picked up by the screws 32 and 33 and movedin opposite directions, spilling over theedges of the troughs 81 and 9|, and falling on the baiiies 38 and 3| respectively.

: Referring to Figures 1, 4 and 5 it will be seen that the pair of rolls I8 and i8 rotate with, or in the'direction of travel of, the strip 5 and thus tend to prevent the passage of bran between these rolls an the surfaces of the strip. The bran is directed by the baiiies 38 and 3| on to the tops of the rolls 28 and 2L, As the roll2l is i-otating with the strip movement it will cause the bran to Move to the left (Fig. 1) and drop on to the baffle 35, whereas the roll 28, as it is moving against the strip travel will cause the bran to pass between the surface of the roll and the surface of the strip with resulting effective removal of oil or polishing action if rouge-is employed. Reference to F1 es 4 and 5 will reveal that the roll 28 is driven from the elevator side of the machine and thus travels at approximately one-half the speed of the -roll 2i which is driven from the drive side of the machine. The higher rotational speed of the roll 2| tends to .throwithe bran away from the strip, while the slower speed of the roll 28 permits the bran to be forced between the strip and the roll surface. Of course, the roll 2i serves to back up the roll 28 and their shafts will be spaced apart sufficiently to permit the bran to pass between the roll 28 and the surface of the strip with the desired contact.

Proceeding downwardly, the bran from the which throws it off away from the strip on to the bailie 34. Thus, the pair of rolls 22 and 23 impose a bran cleaning action on the left hand side of the strip as distinguished from the pair of rolls 28 and 2| which clean the right hand side of the strip.

Following the bran travel further, the baffle 34 directs bran to the roll 24 which forces it against the right hand strip surface while the bran from between the roll 23 and the left hand side of the strip drops down upon the roll 25 which throws it over on to the baffle 35. This set of rolls 24 and; 25 therefore cleans the right hand side of the strip and similarly the next set of rolls, 28 and 21, cleans the left hand side of the strip. The bran which drops from the rolls 28 and 21 on to the rolls 28 and 29, both of which are moving in the direction of strip travel, is thrown oil away from the strip into thehopper i2 and the troughs 51- and 58 where'it is picked up by the feed screws and elevated and distributed as above described in a repeating cycle.

As long as the motor 81 is operatin ran will be circulated and caused to have cleaning engagement, in staggered steps, against theoppo site sides of the strip passing through the machine. In other words, each side of the strip is subjected to a forcible rubbing of the bran against its surface at two spaced locations while the other side of the strip is also subjected to forcible rubbing of the bran at two other spaced locations arranged in staggered relation to said first named spaced locations. Thus,v uniform and simultaneous cleaning action is effected on each side of the strip. The branis recirculated and continuously mixed and agitated so that it is maintained in the best condition. for cleaning.

' either narrow or wide material can be handled equally well and, due to the vertical movement of the strip through the machine, both sides are subjected to substantially the same cleaning action.

Although we have described the illustrated embodiment of our invention in considerable detail it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made in our improved cleaning apparatus without departing from the spirit of. our invention. We do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the particular apparatus herein shown and described but claim as our invention all embodiments thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims.

We. claim:

16 1'. In apparatus of the type described, means for moving strip material lengthwise in a vertical direction, a plurality of pairs of rolls mounted in superimposed relation on each side of the vertically moving strip, means for rotating one 20 roll oi each pair in a direction opposed to the vertical movement of said strip, means for rotating the other roll of each pair in the direction of strip movement, and means for discharging bran or the like on to the top pair of said rolls.

2. In apparatus of the type described means for guiding strip material for movement in a vertical direction, a plurality of rolls disposed on each side of the strip in vertically superimposed relation, means for rotating said ro1ls,-means for discharging bran or the like adjacent'the uppermost of said rolls, means adjacent the lowermost of said rolls for conveying and elevating bran which has passed over said rolls back up to said discharging means, and baiile means adapted to p direct bran leaving one of said rolls on to the than said first roll, and means for discharging bran or the like on to the top pair of said rolls.

4. In a branner or the like of the type described, a plurality of vertically arranged pairs of rolls, means for passing strip material between said pairs of rolls, means for driving one roll oi each pair in a direction opposed to the movement or said strip and at a predetermined speed, means for driving the other roll of each pair in the direction of strip movement at a greater speed than said first roll, means for discharging bran or the like on to the top pair of said rolls, and means for guiding bran from each pair of rolls to the pair of rolls next below.

5. In apparatus of the type described, a plurality of pairs of rolls, the pairs being arranged in spaced superimposed relation, means for moving strip material vertically between the rolls of each pair, bran discharging means on each side of said strip above the top pair of rolls, bran guiding means on each side of the strip between adjacent pairs of rolls, bran collecting means on each side of said strip below the bottom pair of rolls, means for removing bran from said collecting means, and means for elevating bran from said removing means to said bran discharging means.

6. In apparatus of the typedescribed, a plurality of pairs of rolls, the Pairs being arranged in spaced superimposed relation, means for moving strip material vertically between the rolls of each pair, bran discharging means on each side of said strip above the top pair of rolls, bran guiding means 'on each side of the strip between adjacent pairs oi rolls, bran collecting means on each side of said strip below the bottom pair of rolls, means for removing bran from said collecting means, means for elevating bran from said removing means to said bran discharging means, said'bran discharging, removing and elevating means including screw conveyors and means for driving same.

ELWIN A. MA'I'I'ESON. WILLIAM R mannrrn. 

